there was not any of them hanged, sauing one arcubalister onelie,
whome the king had brought vp of a child. But howsoeuer the king dealt
with them after they were yéelded, true it is (as by the same booke
it appeareth) there had béene no siege in those daies more earnestlie
inforced, nor more obstinatlie defended: for after that all the limmes
of the castell had béene reuersed and throwne downe, they kept the
maister tower, till halfe thereof was also ouerthrowne, and after kept
the other halfe, till through famine they were constreined to yéeld,
hauing nothing but horsseflesh and water to susteine their liues
withall.
[Sidenote: Hugh de Boues drowned.]
Here is to be remembred, that whilest the siege laie thus at Rochester,
Hugh de Boues a valiant knight, but full of pride and arrogancie, a
Frenchman borne, but banished out of his countrie, came downe to Calice
with an huge number of men of warre and souldiers to come to the aid of
king John. But as he was vpon the sea with all his people, meaning to
land at Douer, by a sudden tempest which rose at that instant, the said
Hugh with all his companie was drowned by shipwracke. Soone after the
bodie of the same Hugh with the carcases of other innumerable, both of
men, women, and children, were found not farre from Yermouth, and all
along that coast. There were of them in all fortie thousand, as saith
Matthew Paris, for of all those which he brought with him, there was
(as it is said) not one man left aliue.
The king (as the fame went, but how true I know not) had giuen by
charter vnto the said Hugh de Boues, the whole countrie of Northfolke,
so that he ment to haue expelled the old inhabitants, and to haue
peopled it with strangers. But whether this was so or not, sure it
is that he was verie sorowfull for the losse of this succor and aid
which thus perished in the seas, though it happened verie well for his
subiects of England, that should haue béene sore oppressed by such
multitude of strangers, which for the most part must néeds haue liued
vpon the countrie, to the vtter vndooing of the inhabitants wheresoeuer
they should haue come.
[Sidenote: _Rafe Cog._]
Héere is to be noted, that during the siege of Rochester (as some
write) there came out of France to the number néere hand of seauen
thousand men sent from the French king vnto the aid of the barons, at
the suit of Saer de Quincie earle of Winchester and other ambassadours
that were sent from the barons, during the time of this siege, although
it should séeme by Matthew Paris, that the said earle was not sent
till after the pope had excommunicated the barons (as after yée shall
heare.) The Frenchmen that came ouer at this first time landed at
Orwell, and at other hauens there néere adioining.
[Sidenote: Walter Graie elected archb. of Yorke.]
About this season, the canons of Yorke (bicause the archbishops sée
there had remained void a long time) obtaining licence of the king,
assembled togither about the election of an archbishop. And though the
king had once againe earnestlie mooued them to preferre Walter Graie
bishop of Worcester, yet they refused so to doo, and therefore chose
Simon de Langton, brother to the archbishop of Canturburie, which
election was afterward made void by the earnest trauell of the king to
the pope, bicause his brother the said archbishop of Canturburie was
known to fauour the part of the barons against him, so that the said
Walter Graie was then elected and promoted to the guiding of the sée of
Yorke, according to the kings speciall desire in that behalfe.
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie fauoureth the barons part.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The barons denounced accurssed by the popes commandement.]
About the same time also, pope Innocent being certified, how the
barons of England would not obeie his prescript, iudged them enimies
to the church and gaue commandement to Peter the bishop of Winchester,
to the abbat of Reading, and to the subdeacon Pandulph, to pronounce
the sentence of excommunication against them. But they could not at
the first execute the popes commandement herein, by reason that the
archbishop of Canturburie, who fauoured the barons cause, would not
permit them. Wherefore the same archbishop was interdicted out of the
church, and from saieng diuine seruice, and also being cited to appeare
at Rome, was in danger to be depriued of his miter: had not certeine
cardinals intreated for him, and obteined his pardon. The archbishop
being gone to Rome, as well to excuse himselfe in this matter, as to
be present at the generall councell there holden at that time (for
he was readie to go take the sea thitherwards when the bishop of
Winchester and Pandulph came to him with the popes letters) the said
bishop of Winchester & Pandulph procéeded to the pronouncing of the
excommunication against the barons, renewing the same euerie sundaie
and holieday: albeit the barons (bicause none of them were expresselie
named in the popes letters) made none account of the censure, reputing
it as void, and not to concerne them in any manner of point. But now to
returne to king John.
[Sidenote: K. John diuideth his armie in two parts.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
After he had woone the castell of Rochester (as before you haue heard)
he hasted to S. Albons, and there diuided his armie into two parts,
appointing the one to remaine about London, whilest he himselfe with
the other might go into the north to waste and destroie the possessions
of certeine lords there, which (as he was informed) went about to
raise an armie against him. He made capteins of that armie which he
left behind him, his brother William earle of Salisburie, Sauerie de
Mauleon, Will. Brewer, Walter Buc, and others. He himselfe departed
from S. Albons about the 21 day of December, leading his said armie
northwards: in which were chiefe capteins these that follow, William
erle of Albemarle, Philip de Albeney, and John Marshall. Also of
strangers, Gerard de Sotigam, and Godstall, with the Flemings, the
crossebowes, and others.
[Sidenote: K. John goeth northward.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Notingham.]
[Sidenote: _1216._]
[Sidenote: Beauer castle summoned to yéeld.]
[Sidenote: William de Albeney.]
[Sidenote: Stodham.]
[Sidenote: Charnelles.]
[Sidenote: The castell of Beauoir rendered to the king.]
The first night he laie at Dunstable, and from thence passing forwards
towards Northampton, he destroied by the waie all the manours, places
and houses, which belonged to the aduersaries, and so kept on his
iournie till he came to Notingham, where he laie in the castell on
Christmasse day, and in the morning (being S. Stephans day) he went to
Langar, and lodged there that night, sending his summons in the morning
to the castell of Beauer, willing them within to yéeld. This castell
apperteined to William Albeney, who had committed the custodie thereof
vnto his sonne Nicholas de Albeney préest, to sir William de Stodham,
and to sir Hugh Charnelles knights: the which came to the king with the
keies of the castell, and surrendered the same vnto him, with condition
that he should be good to their master the said William Albeney, and
grant vnto them their horses and armour, wherwith they would remaine
with him vnder his peace and protection. On the next morrow (being
S. Johns day) the king went to the castell, and receiuing the same,
deliuered it to the kéeping of Geffrey Buteuile, and his brother Oliuer.
[Sidenote: Dunnington castell taken and raced.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
After this the castell of John Lacie at Dunnington was taken and
laid flat to the ground, by commandement of the king, who hauing
accomplished his will in those parties, drew towards Yorkeshire, and
at his comming thither destroied the houses, townes and manours of
those lords and gentlemen which were against him. It is horrible to
heare, and lothsome to rehearse the crueltie which was practised by the
souldiers and men of warre in places where they came, who counting no
honour or renowme more excellent, nor glorie (as warriours say)
Maior nulla quidem quàm bello parta videtur,
Horrida Mauortis tractare ferociter arma,
Hostilíque suam temerare in sanguine dextram,
[Sidenote: K. John taketh y^e castell of Barwike.]
[Sidenote: Hugh de Balioll & Philip de Hulcotes.]
[Sidenote: Robert de Vepount, Brian de Lisle, Geffrey de Lucie.]
and therfore were wholie bent to spoile and ransacke the houses of the
people without pitie or compassion, besides the robberies, spoiles and
great outrages vsed by the souldiers generallie against the common
people. Few there were in that countrie of great lineage or wealth,
whom the king for their assembling themselues with the barons either
spoiled not, or put not to execution. Thus with his armie (to the
great desolation of the countrie) he passed foorth to the borders of
Scotland, and entring that realme, tooke the castell of Barwike, and
other places of strength in those parts, meaning to haue woone more
from the Scots, if other vrgent businesse had not called him backe
againe. This being doone, he committed the countrie which lieth betwixt
the riuer of These, and the confines of Scotland, to the kéeping of
Hugh de Balioll & Philip de Hulcotes, assigning to them such conuenient
number of men of warre as was thought expedient, and the custodie of
the castels in Yorkeshire he deliuered to Robert de Vepount, to Brian
de Lisle, and to Geffrey de Lucie.
[Sidenote: Mountsorell betwixt Leicester & Lugborough.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Salisburie with his armie inuadeth the
countries about London.]
Finallie, when he had so ordered things in the North parts as stood
with his pleasure, so that there remained no more but two castels, that
is to saie, Mountsorrell, and another in Yorkeshire that apperteined to
Robert de Roos in possession of the barons, he returned by the borders
of Wales into the south parts: and by all the way as he passed, he
shewed great crueltie against his aduersaries, besieging and taking
their castells and strong houses, of the which some he caused to be
fortified with garrisons of souldiers to his owne vse, and some he
raced. The like feats were wrought by the other armie in the parts
about London: for William earle of Salisburie, and Foukes de Brent,
with the other capteins which the king had left behind him there,
perceiuing that the citie would not easilie be woone by anie siege,
first furnished the castell of Windsore, Hertford, and Barkhamsted,
with such strong garrisons of souldiers as might watch, vpon occasion
giuen to assaile those that should either go into the citie, or come
from thence: they marched foorth with the residue of the armie, and
passing through the counties of Essex, and Hertford, Middlesex,
Cambridge, Huntington, they wasted the countries, and made the townes
become tributaries to them. As for the houses, manour places, parkes,
and other possessions of the barons, they wasted, spoiled and destroied
them, running euen hard to the citie of London and setting fire in the
suburbs.
[Sidenote: The castell of Hanslap.]
[Sidenote: Tunbridge castell.]
[Sidenote: Bedford tak[=e]n by Foukes de Brent.]
[Sidenote: Will. Beauchampe.]
[Sidenote: Castels deliuered to the kéeping of Foukes de Brent.]
In this meane time, whilest the king went forwards on his iournie
northwards, vpon the 18 of December last past, the castell of Hanslap
was taken by Foukes de Brent, which apperteined vnto William Manduit.
On the same day also was the castell of Tunbridge taken by the garrison
of Rochester, which castell of Tunbridge belonged to the earle of
Clare. Moreouer, the foresaid Foukes de Brent comming vnto Bedford, wan
both the towne and castell: for they that had the castell in kéeping,
after 7 daies respit (which they obteined at the hands of the said
Foukes) when rescue came not from the lord William Beauchampe their
maister, they deliuered it vnto the said Foukes. Vnto whom K. John gaue
not onlie that castell, but also committed to his kéeping the castells
of Northampton, Oxford and Cambridge.
[Sidenote: Foukes de Brent aduanced by marriage.]
[Sidenote: Rockingham, Sawey and Biham.]
[Sidenote: Barkhamsted.]
[Sidenote: Hertfort castell.]
The king had this Foukes in great estimation, and amongst other
waies to aduance him, he gaue to him in marriage Margaret de Riuers,
a ladie of high nobilitie, with all the lands and possessions that
to hir belonged. Moreouer, to William earle of Albemarle the king
deliuered the custodie of the castels of Rockingham, Sawey and Biham.
To one Ranulfe Teutonicus, the castell of Barkehamsted, and to Walter
Godreuill seruant to Foukes de Brent, he betooke the kéeping of the
castell of Hertford. Thus what on the one part, and what on the other,
the barons lost in maner all their possessions from the south sea vnto
the borders of Scotland, the king seizing the same into his hands,
and committing them to the kéeping of strangers, and such other as he
thought more trustie and conuenient. All this while the barons laie at
London banketting and making merrie, without attempting anie exploit
praise-worthie. But yet when they heard by certeine aduertisement, what
hauocke and destruction was made of their houses & possessions abroad,
they could not but lament their miseries, and amongst other their
complaints which they vttered one to another, they sore blamed the
pope, as a chéefe cause of all these euils, for that he mainteined and
defended the king against them.
[Sidenote: The barons accursed by name.]
Indéed about the same time pope Innocent, who before at the instant
suit of king John had excommunicated the barons in generall, did now
excommunicate them by name, and in particular, as these. First all
the citizens of London which were authors of the mischéefe that had
happened by the rebellion of the said barons. Also Robert Fitz Walter,
Saer de Quincie earle of Winchester, R. his sonne, G. de Mandeuille,
and W. his brother the earle of Clare, and G. his sonne, H. earle of
Hereford, R. de Percie, G. de Vescie, J. conestable of Chester, W. de
Mowbraie, Will. de Albenie, W. his sonne, P. de Breuse, R. de Cressey,
J. his sonne, Ranulfe Fitz Robert, R. earle Bigot, H. his sonne, Robert
de Vere, Foulke Fitz Warren, W. Mallet, W. de Mountacute, W. Fitz
Marshall, W. de Beauchampe, S. de Kime, R. de Montbigons, and Nicholas
de Stuteuille, with diuerse other.
[Sidenote: _Ralfe Cog._]
[Sidenote: The Ile of Elie spoiled.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Bernewell._]
The armie which king John had left behind him in the south parts, vnder
the leading of the earle of Salisburie and other, laie not idle, but
scowring the countries abroad (as partlie yée haue heard) came to S.
Edmundsburie, and hauing intelligence there, that diuerse knights,
ladies and gentlewomen that were there before their comming, had fled
out of that towne, and for their more safetie were withdrawne into the
Ile of Elie, they followed them, besieged the Ile, and assailed it on
ech side, so that although they within had fortified the passages, and
appointed men of warre to remaine vpon the gard of the same in places
where it was thought most néedfull; yet at length they entred vpon them
by force, Walter Bucke with his Brabanders being the first that set
foot within the Ile towards Herbie. For by reason the waters in the
fenes and ditches were hard frosen, so that men might passe by the same
into the said Ile, they found means to enter, and spoiled it fr[=o]m
side to side, togither with the cathedral church, carieng from thence
at their departure a maruellous great prey of goods and cattell.
[Sidenote: The lords send to the French kings sonne, offering to him
the crowne.]
The barons of the realme being thus afflicted with so manie mischéefes
all at one time, as both by the sharpe and cruell warres which the
king made against them on the one side, and by the enmitie of the pope
on the other side, they knew not which way to turne them, nor how to
séeke for reléefe. For by the losse of their complices taken in the
castell of Rochester, they saw not how it should any thing auaile them
to ioine in battell with the king. Therefore considering that they were
in such extremitie of despaire they resolued with themselues to séeke
for aid at the enimies hands, and therevpon Saer earle of Winchester,
and Robert Fitz Walter, with letters vnder their seales were sent vnto
Lewes the sonne of Philip the French king, offering him the crowne of
England, and sufficient pledges for performance of the same, and other
couenants to be agréed betwixt them, requiring him with all spéed to
come vnto their succour. This Lewes had married (as before is said)
Blanch daughter to Alfonse king of Castile, néece to king John by his
sister Elianor.
[Sidenote: French men sent ouer to the aid of the barons.]
[Sidenote: The saturday after the Epiphanie, saith _Rafe. Cog._]
Now king Philip the father of this Lewes, being glad to haue such
an occasion to inuade the relme of England, which he neuer looued,
promised willinglie that his sonne should come vnto the aid of the
said barons with all conuenient spéed (but first he receiued foure and
twentie hostages which he placed at Campaine for further assurance of
the couenants accorded) and herewith he prepared an armie, and diuerse
ships to transport his sonne and his armie ouer into England. In the
meane time, and to put the barons in comfort, he sent ouer a certeine
number of armed men, vnder the leading of the chatelaine of saint Omers
and the chatelaine of Arras, Hugh Thacon, Eustace de Neuille, Baldwin
Brecell, William de Wimes, Giles de Melun, W. de Beamont, Giles de
Hersie, Biset de Fersie, and others, the which taking the sea, arriued
with one and fortie ships in the Thames, and so came to London the
seauen and twentith of Februarie, where they were receiued of the
barons with great ioy and gladnesse. Moreouer the said Lewes wrote to
the barons, that he purposed by Gods assistance to be at Calice by day
appointed, with an armie redie to passe ouer with all spéed vnto their
succours.
[Sidenote: _Rafe. Cog._]
The fridaie before Candlemasse day, Sauarie de Mauleon, and other
capteines of the kings side, laid siege to the castell of Colchester,
but hauing intelligence that the barons which laie at London made
forward with all spéed to come to succour that castell, on the
Wednesday after Candlemasse day, being the third of Februarie, they
raised their siege, and went backe towards S. Edmundsburie.
In the meane while, the K. being gone (as yée haue heard) to the
borders of Scotland, a brute was raised that he was dead, and secretlie
buried at Reading. But this rumour had not time to worke any great
alteration, for after he had dispatched his businesse in the north,
as he thought expedient, he returned, and comming into the east parts
about the midst of Lent himselfe in person besieged the castell of
Colchester, and within a few daies after his comming thither, it was
deliuered vnto him by Frenchmen that kept it, with condition that they
might depart with all their goods and armour, vnto their fellowes at
London, and that the Englishmen there in companie with them in that
castell, might likewise depart vpon reasonable ransoms.
But although that couenant was kept with the Frenchmen, yet the
Englishmen were staied and committed to prison. Wherevpon when the
Frenchmen came to London, they were apprehended and charged with
treason for making such composition, whereby those Englishmen that were
fellowes with them in arms were secluded from so beneficiall conditions
as they had made for themselues. They were in danger to haue béene
put to death for their euill dealing herein, albeit at length it was
concluded that they should remaine in prison till the comming of Lewes,
vnto whose pleasure their cause should be referred.
After this the castell of Hidingham was woone, which belonged vnto
earle Robert de Vere. Then the king prepared to besiege London, but the
Londoners were of such courage, that they set open their gates, and
hearing of the kings approach, made readie to issue forth to giue him
battell: wherof the king being aduertised, withdrew backe, but Sauerie
de Mauleon was suddenlie set vpon by the Londoners, lost manie of his
men, and was sore hurt and wounded himselfe.
The king perceiuing that it would not preuaile him to attempt the
winning of the citie at that time, drew alongst the coast, fortified
his castels, and prepared a great nauie, meaning to encounter his
enimie Lewes by sea: but through tempest the ships which he had got
togither from Yarmouth, Dunwich Lin, and other hauens, were dispersed
in sunder, and manie of them cast awaie by rage and violence of the
outragious winds.
[Sidenote: King John once againe sendeth to the pope.]
Somewhat before this time also, when he heard of the compact made
betwixt the barons and his aduersaries the Frenchmen, he dispatched a
messenger in all hast to the pope, signifieng to him what was in hand
and practised against him, requiring furthermore the said pope by his
authorise to cause Lewes to staie his iournie, and to succour those
rebels in England which he had alreadie excommunicated. This he néeded
not haue doone, had he béene indued with such prudence and prowesse as
is requisit to be planted in one that beareth rule, of whom it is said,
Cui si quando Deus rerum permittat habenas,
Imperíjq; decus, tunc aurea secula fiunt,
Tunc floret virtus, terrásque Astrea reuisit,
Pax viget, & vitium duris cohibetur habenis,
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 18.]
[Sidenote: Cardinall Gualo.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The French kings allegations to the popes legat Gualo.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
whereas by meanes of defects in the contrarie, he bare too low a
saile, in that he would be so foolified as being a king, to suffer
vsurped supremasie to be caruer of his kingdome. But let vs sée the
consequence. The pope desirous to helpe king John all that he might
(bicause he was now his vassall) sent his legat Gualo into France,
to disswade king Philip from taking anie enterprise in hand against
the king of England. But king Philip though he was content to heare
what the legat could saie, yet by no meanes would be turned from
the execution of his purpose, alledging that king John was not the
lawfull king of England, hauing first vsurped and taken it awaie from
his nephue Arthur the lawfull inheritour, and that now sithens as
an enimie to his owne roiall dignitie he had giuen the right of his
kingdome awaie to the pope (which he could not doo without consent
of his nobles) and therefore through his owne fault he was worthilie
depriued of all his kinglie honor. For the kingdome of England (saith
he) neuer belonged to the patrimonie of S. Peter, nor at anie time
shall. For admit that he were rightfull king, yet neither he nor anie
other prince may giue awaie his kingdome without the assent of his
barons, which are bound to defend the same, and the prerogatiue roiall,
to the vttermost of their powers. Furthermore (saith he) if the pope
doo meane to mainteine this errour, he shall giue a perilous example
to all kingdomes of the world. Herewithall the Nobles of France then
present, protested also with one voice, that in defense of this article
they would stand to the death, which is, that no king or prince at his
will and pleasure might giue awaie his kingdome, or make it tributarie
to anie other potentate, whereby the Nobles should become thrall or
subject to a forren gouernour. These things were doone at Lions in the
quindene after Easter.
[Sidenote: Lewes the Fr[=e]nch kings sonne mainteineth his pretended
title to the crowne of England.]
[Sidenote: The priuilege of those that tooke vpon them the crosse.]